On Monday launched a new variant of its multi-utility vehicle Rhino at a starting price of Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). ICML expects to sell 5,000 units of Rhino this fiscal and is targeting sales of 24,000 units in 2008-09.

Renowned Italian automotive design house and coach builder Pininfarina, known for designing famed cars like Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia, is looking to set up a global facility in India in the next two to five years. It is also firming up plans to work with various Indian auto-mobile majors.

Pininfarina managing director, global innovation and strategic advisor for Pininfarina Roney Simon said: "Pininfarina, is pushing for creating a global design hub in India in line with the country's 10-year Automotive Mission Plan (AMP). We are looking at design, engineering and even manufacturing operations out of India to expand our operations in the subcontinent, and some concrete work is expected in the next two years."

The Italian design house has already tied up with tractor maker Sonalika Group's International Cars and Motors Ltd (ICML) to re-design its first vehicle, the Rhino Rx and is also working on a new set of vehicles for the company.

"Our tie-up with ICML opens the first chapter for a comprehensive styling and design input for its world car. We look at offering our entire service range from styling to production to ICML and other companies as India is going to be the next big global automobile market with great emphasis on R&D and product development," Mr Simon said.

Pininfarina's family of 'world cars' it is designing for ICML will be rolled out in India and other countries by 2010. Besides, it also co-developing a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a passenger car for ICML that would be positioned in the 'C' segment in the Rs 8-10 lakh price range.

ICML Managing Director Deepak Mittal said: "With the world cars, our intention is to develop a family of global cars which will include an SUV and other luxury vehicles. Our tie-up with Pininfarina will help us to develop this global product by 2010, when the Indian passenger vehicle market is expected to touch the 2-million mark."

The company on Monday launched a new variant of its multi-utility vehicle Rhino at a starting price of Rs 6 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). ICML expects to sell 5,000 units of Rhino this fiscal and is targeting sales of 24,000 units in 2008-09.

Report courtesy of Economic Times